IntroductionWith
consumers flocking to all sorts of new server-based storage systems,
ranging from Apple iPods to Media Center PCs to video servers like
Kaliedescape’s $27,000 system, one truth remains: we still need to find
a good storage solution for our physical CDs and DVDs. While some throw
caution to the wind and simply trade in their discs as soon as they get
a new server, those end users are playing a high stakes game of poker.
Anyone who has seen a hard drive fail or a record company sue a
consumer knows it is best to keep those discs as a backup in the event
that someday you will need them.

From the early
days of the compact disc, consumers were told that CDs and DVDs are
virtually indestructible. I think the marketing line was “perfect sound
forever.” The truth is that digital discs, like CDs, DVDs, video games
and even good old laserdiscs, are fairly delicate. It’s surprisingly
easy to scratch, smudge or break discs, which can affect their ability
to be read by your CD or DVD player or cause them to not work at all.

Storing Discs ProperlyThe most important tip for
protecting all of your media discs, whether you’re using CDs or DVDs,
is to return them to their storage device immediately after you are
finished using them, whether it is ripping them into a server, playing
them on a DVD player or taking them on the road for a spin in your
in-dash car player. The common practice of stacking discs on top of
each other or placing them on countertops and similar surfaces can
create scratches very easily. You may not realize it, but scratches on
the label side of the CD are more likely to cause playback problems,
because data is stored much closer to this side of the disc. Check out
www.scratchdoctor.co.uk for some unique solutions to discs that have
already suffered damage. It’s also important to avoid setting your
discs on or near strong magnetic fields, which may erase or distort
data stored on your discs. Common items around the house to keep your
discs away from are computer monitors, television sets, players and
microwave ovens.

Media Storage SystemsJewel CasesStoring
CDs in jewel cases is common, as the discs typically come packaged in
jewel cases, but believe it or not, discs can become scratched in jewel
cases in many ways. This includes if they “come off” the center spindle
and shuffle around in the case, whereby the surface continually rubs
against the spindle, causing scratches. Also, jewel cases can crack and
splinter quite easily if they are used frequently for transporting
discs (i.e., if used in automobiles). The most pressing issue with
jewel cases is physical space in most systems. With many collections of
CDs running into the thousands, the space needed to store discs is vast
and with per square foot prices in the $750 to $1,000 range, consumers
in many of America’s biggest cities are looking for servers or
alternative ways to have their music but save space at the same time.

CD Cases or WalletsOver
the years, many disc users have used disc cases or wallets to store and
transport disc collections. There are a few very good case solutions
available, but not all are created equal.

A few things to look out for when using a disc case or wallet:

(a) The case should be able to withstand normal wear and be made of a
material you trust will protect the discs from cracks or scratches when
the case is dropped. Most nylon cases do very little to protect your
discs from drops and they have a tendency to “bulge” when completely
filled.

(b) The pockets used in the case/wallet should be made of a very soft
non-woven material to ensure that your discs are not scratched when
inserting and removing them (the better cases will actually clean your
discs when inserting and removing them from the soft pocket). If
possible, you should also look for a pocket design that does not
require you to seal and unseal a pocket each time, as these have a
tendency to tear after extensive use.

(c) It is generally recommended that you stay away from cases that use
plastic (specifically PVC) front panels for the disc pocket, because
the chemicals from PVC can negatively affect the disc. It is a must
that if any plastic is used for a front panel, it is not PVC but is
instead polypropylene (orange peel polypropylene, to be exact). The
difference is that PVC will stick to your discs (especially if left in
the heat), which can cause damage by removing part of the protective
layer when it is separated from the disc. Orange peel polypropylene
will not do this. It’s also very important that you store your discs,
in or out of your case, in a cool, dry place. Heat and moisture can
warp your discs, making them impossible to read and possibly causing
damage to your CD or DVD player. Ideally, you want to have a pocket
system where the disc is stored in a pocket that has soft, non-woven
material for both the front and rear panel of the pocket.

What To Do With Fingerprints?Fingerprints
are more than just smudges that need be wiped off of your discs. The
oils on your hands can actually eat away at the coating on the disc,
damaging the reflective layer and making those areas unreadable to your
CD or DVD player. The best policy is to only grab your discs by the
edge or hold on to the central plastic ring where data isn’t stored. LabelingNever
use a hard-tipped pen to label your discs and always write on the
provided area or on the inside plastic ring. Felt-tip permanent markers
are best and water-soluble inks prove to be the safest and most
convenient, since they dry quickly. Even slightly etching anything on
your discs on either side can make them no longer readable in your
player.

How to Properly Clean Your DiscsCDs
and DVDs should only be wiped off with a clean, dry or slightly moist
super-soft cloth made especially for this purpose. Be sure to use a
non-abrasive cleanser that is designed specifically for use on disc
surfaces. Please note that certain cleansers that may be suitable for
CDs may not be safe to use on CD-Rs, CD-RWs and DVDs. Another very
important tip is that you should always wipe your discs off from the
center toward the outer edge, never in a circular motion. In the event
that you don’t have any CD cleaning liquid on hand, use a dry,
lint-free rag.

Are DVDs More Fragile That CDs?It
is not commonly known that DVDs are actually far more sensitive to
scratching and destruction than CDs. On CDs, the data is able to be
stored closer to the label side of the disc, which provides a little
bit of extra physical protection. However, since DVDs store data on
both sides, each has only a thin layer of protection between your
beloved Angelina Jolie movie and the harsh outside world. This means
that even the smallest scratches can cause a great deal of difficulty
in your DVD player’s ability to read the disc.

Scratch-Proof DVDs?Earlier
this year, the manufacturer TDK released a new DVD that can withstand
the forces of a screwdriver, a permanent marker and, yes, even a
two-year-old child. They are still awaiting the patent for their
polymer coating. These discs are certainly more durable than the
majority of DVDs currently being sold. However, you can expect to pay
five or six times more for this new technology. Naturally, these prices
are expected to fall over the next few years, so unless you’re willing
to shell out big bucks for a DVD that can double as a Frisbee, follow
the above tips and be careful with your discs.

Your music and movie collection is valuable and can be enjoyed for
years to come on many evolutions of your system, as long as you care
for your discs as though they are fine art – which in many ways they
are. You can save space by storing your CDs away in cases or you can
have unprecedented access to your music and movies on innovative new
servers, but no matter what, keep your archived discs protected and
waiting for you in the event you need them. If you are careful, you can
make them last a lifetime.Resources:Slappa Storage Caseshttp://www.slappa.com